3:6a
Certainly not!: These are the same Greek phrase as in 3:4a. Translate it as you did there.
But this phrase answers the question in 3:5c. It does not connect to 3:5d. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate Paul disagreed with what he said in 3:5d. If that is true in your language, you may want to repeat some of 3:5c here. For example:
By no means ⌊should we say that God is unrighteous⌋ !
3:6b
In that case: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as In that case introduces a different conclusion than what was said before. The meaning of 3:6a is “By no means ⌊should we say that God is unrighteous⌋,” and now the meaning of 3:6b is “for, ⌊if God was unrighteous,⌋ how could he judge the world ⌊justly⌋ ?” Translate this conjunction with that meaning. Here are other ways to translate this word:
Otherwise, (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
If that were so, (New International Version)
-or-
If God is not just, (Good News Translation)
how could God judge the world?: This is a rhetorical question. It expects the answer “if God was not righteous, he could not judge people justly.” Translate this clause with that meaning. Here are some ways to do that:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
how can he judge the world? (Good News Translation)
-or-
how will God judge the world? (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
how would he be qualified to judge the world? (New Living Translation (2004))
• As a statement. For example:
It would mean that God could not be the judge of the world. (New Jerusalem Bible)
how could God judge: Many scholars say that this question is about how, not ability. It asks, “If God is not righteous, by what standard would he use to judge?” For example:
how will God judge (New American Standard Bible)
The English words “can” or could have a similar meaning here.
the world: Here this phrase refers to all people whoever lived. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer only to the earth. If that is true in your language, translate this as:
all people
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